Translation of the abstract (English)

The study investigates how short sounds, consisting of white noise
randomly fluctuating in level ("temporal loudness profiles"), are
processed by the auditory system. Two aspects were investigated:
(1) what changes in level human subjects are able to distinguish,
in regard to the temporal resolution of the auditory system, and
(2) how efficient gathered information is used for different ...

Translation of the abstract (English)

The study investigates how short sounds, consisting of white noise
randomly fluctuating in level ("temporal loudness profiles"), are
processed by the auditory system. Two aspects were investigated:
(1) what changes in level human subjects are able to distinguish,
in regard to the temporal resolution of the auditory system, and
(2) how efficient gathered information is used for different kinds
of pattern recognition processes. In five experiments different
kinds of pattern recognition tasks were implemented, requiring to
either integrate level information over some period of time (up to
1 s) or to analyse level fluctuations with a fine temporal grain
to be able to discriminate the given "loudness profiles". Using a
special statistical method, COSS-Analysis [B.G. Berg, J. Acoust.
Soc. Am., 86, 1743-1746 (1989)], it was possible to estimate
relative weights that give a measure for the contribution of each
temporal segment of a sound pattern to the listener's decision.
The results show that listeners are able to perceive differences
in loudness patterns in the range of milliseconds and that they
are also able to use level information selectively, efficiently
and flexibly according to the task they are given. The results
confirm the assumption that the auditory system either integrates
over a longer period of time (loudness integration) or
discriminates with high temporal resolution (temporal profile
analysis), depending on what is required. Impairments in the
processing of temporal loudness patterns were observed only, when
level increments at the very beginning of a sound pattern were to
be recognized or when irrelevant information was supposed to be
ignored.